Air purifier



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN DELLINGER, F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

AIR PUBIFIER.

ApplicationmledlNovember 26, `1821. Serielle. 518,076.

- tac-hed to the outlet of a vacuum cleaner.

-Another4 object of my invention is the provisionl of a device of 'this kind which can be easily separated so that a pharmaceutical substance may be placed therein, or, if desired, absorbent material saturated with a pharmaceutical liquid substance.

The invention consists in the novel features of .construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts lto be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings y Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through-my improved air'puritier, in what I now consider thepreferred construction.'

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line Vf 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a'transverse section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of a slightly modified form of my invention.

Fig 5 is a central longitudinal section of a still further modified form of my invention.`

The device comprises a casing having a cylindricalwall 6 and a double head 7, 8 at each end thereof. The head 7 closes the inlet end of the cylindrical wall and comprises two separable parts 9,` 10, each part 'being concave-convex and arranged with their concaved faces in opposition soas to form a hollow interior for the head. The part 1() is provided with a flat marginal rim 11 which is adapted to bear against the inlet end of the cylindrical'wall 6, while the part i) has a-siinllar riin 12 provided with a. circumferential flange 13 adapted to surround the cylindrical wall at its. inlet end, said lflange snugly fitting said cylindrical vwall so that it will be firmly retained thereon; b`ut, if' desired, suitable fastening means may be e soldered to said cylindrical walll provided'for this -purpose -or the ange may n In a broader sense, the part 9 may be consldered one of the heads of the casing, while the part v1.0 may be considered a transverse Wall spaced from said head. The part 9 has an -axial openin in which an inlet tube 14 is secured, and tgilis tube is adapted for connection with any suitable source of aircurrent; for example, by means of a hose 15 leading fromthe outlet of a vacuum cleaner. The transverse wall or part is provided with a short tube 16, and closing the inner end of the tube 14 or the inlet of the casing, as it may be termed, is a selfclosing inlet valve 17 havin a tube 18, which surrounds the free end o the tube 1 the wall 10. Within the tubes, which are 6 forming part of '70 arranged to telescope, is a c oil spring 19, one end thereof bearing against the valve 17 and the other end bearing against the center of the part or wall 10.v The -part or wall 10 is provided with perforations20 through which the air entering through the inletl tube 14 1s adapted topass, said perforations being preferably `formed' by .stamping the metal of 'the part `or wall 10 inwardly so as to provide prongs 21. the cylindrical wall is spirally grooved or threaded, as at 22, and applied thereto is a threaded clamping ring 23 which has an inwardly extending iange 24 adapted to bear against the marginal portion of the double head 8. This double head comprises a concave-convex outer wall 25 and a concavo-convex `inner wall. 26, said inner wall having a flat-rim 27 surrounded bythe marl ginal portionof the outer Wall 25. In this manner the inner and outer walls of the dous ble head 8 are joined together and are rev movable as a unit. The inner wall has an axial outlet opening 28 closed by a selfsclosing valve 29 within thespace between the two walls 25, 26, said valve havingv an outwardly-extending tube 30 which surrounds the inner end of a tube 31 retained centrally within an outlet tube 32 formed on the outer Wall 25 of the double head 8. The tube 31 is somewhat smaller than the outlet tube 32' The opposite or outlet end of and is retained centrally within said outlet tube by means of radialv centering wings 33 extending therefrom and soldered or otherwise fastened to the inner surface of the outlet tube 32. Thus the tube 31 is held centrally against movement within the tube 32, and the wings 33 form four seginentalairoutlets 34.

Within the tubes 30 andil 31 is a spiral' sprinr 35,one end of which bears against the valve V29 and, the other end against a packed against the cylindrical wall and the inner wall 10 of the double vhead 7' by a follower 40, said follower being in the form of a flat disk having a cylindrlcal {iange 41 to which a vfelt or leather packing 42 lis secured, which bears against the inner surface of the cylindrical wall 6.

' of the device, and with itsother end against The follower 40 is provided with perforations 43 stamped therefrom to provide prongs 44, said prongs extending toward thewall or part 10, which is similarly 'per-A 25 forated, and the prongs of this wall and those of the follower lie in firm contact with the Iabsorbent material 39. The follower 40 is'pressed toward the inlet end of the device b means of a spiral spring 45 which bears w1th one end; against the inner wall 26 of the double head 8 at the outlet end the follower, said spring serving to compress the absorbent material which may be saturated with a suitable liquid disinf fectant, sterilizer, or deodorant.; or lump material, such asI camphor balls on the like.

. may7 be substituted for the absorbent mav occupy smallerspace., the.v

. air then terial, in which case the lump material will be held in packed condition between the follower and the vinner wall` of the double head 7, and while being-consumed so as t0 acked condition thereof will be maintaine due to the fol- .45 lower being crowded toward said ,inner wall by the spring 45.

Air under ressure is forced into the inlet tube 14, causingthe valve 17 torise and assume a position-approximating that shown in dotted lines in' Fig. 1.. The ,air thus enters the hollow interior of the double head 7 and is `forced through theperforations 20 of the inner part or wall 19. The

passes .through the absorbent material, bemg humidied by taking up a quantity of' the .absorbed v.li uid disinfectant. Thshumidified, or disin ected, or otherwise chemically treated air escapes through the perforations 43 in the follower 40 and the pressure created to open the inlet valve 17 will also serve to open the'outlet valve 29, thus allowing the so treated air -to enter the hollow interior of the outlet'head 8, from whence it escapes through the four segmental shaped passages 34 in the outlet tube 32, the so treated air being directed againstclothing or other articles, or into a room to disinfect, sterilize, or deodorize the same.

When bulk material isused within the 'casing'for disinfecting, sterilizing, or deodori'zing the air, the latter becomes saturated therewith and p'asses out of the casing in the manner described; the material,Y

although gradually4 consumed, retains a packed condition within the casingI by rea-- son of the spring-pressed-follower 40 keeping the material pressed against the inlet head 7. l

` 4rWhen absorbent material is used within the casing to be saturated with liquidterilizer disinfectant, or deodorant, it is simply necessary to depress the valve 36 and then pour liquid substance into the axiallydis posed tube 31 through the liquid substance inlet'opening 37, the liquid passingthrough said tube and entering the telescoping tube 30 of the valve 29, from.which last-men# vtioned tube it passes through the axial opening 38 in said valve and enters the casing. This liquid finally passes through-the perforations 43 in the follower and becomes absorbed by thel absorbent material 39 within the casing. l

.When bulk material, such as camphor balls Aor the-like, are used, it will be neoessary to remove the .outlet-head of the casing by detaching the clamping ring 23 therefrom, after which the' spring 45 andthe follower 40 must be removed from the casing. This leaves the casing open its full width yat the outlet 'end so that the desired uantity -of` bulk material can be placed t erein, after which the parts are lreas sembled and retained in place by the. clamping ring 23. A

A device of this. kind can beplaced withina bath room and a fan connectedtherewith so that a constant lcurrent of air will be passed through the device while the fan is in operation, which may be conveniently accomplished by connecting an electric motor with the fan.

- In Fig. 4 I have 'shown a slightly moditied form of outlet hea-d; and in this modification the outlet tube 32 shown in Figs. 1

and 2 is dispensed with and'in lieu thereof.

theouter concavo-convex wall 25 of' the double head 8' is provided with numerous perforations 46 through which the air forced into the hollow interior of the double head escapes. In other respects the device may erence to Figs. land 3, with the exception that the tube 31 extends inwardly directly from the outer wall 25.

mi.A

be constructed as described with ref- In Fig. 5 I have shown a still further modified yform/of my' invention, and in' this instance the inner ywall l26 of the double head 8 is shown separate from' the outer wall, said inner wall havingan obliquelyl* disposed flange 47 at its marginal port-ion,

` end of the casing 6 and adapted to be threaded thereon. In this instance the outer Wall is .provided with perforations. 46, as described with referenceto Fig'. 4, and it is adapted to bear against the obliquelydisposed fiange 47 and clamp the inner wall against the outer end of the casing 6, as at 49.'

In the modifications, as well as in the preferred construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the inner wall 10 or the inlet head by'reason of its concavo-convex formation provides an annular trough 50 at'the inlet end of the casing which, when *the device is used in the position shown in the drawings, will retain any surplus liquid not absorbed by the absorbent material within the casing, andy as the liquid becomesgradually consumed, the surplus li uid shown atwill be absorbed by the a orbent material. Since the perforations 20 in the inner wall 10 are arranged in the central portion of saidwall, there is no possibility of leakage of the liquid into'the valve chamber formed between the inner wall 10 and the outer wall 9 ofthe double head at the inlet end of the casing.

4While I have illustrated and 4described the casingv as being cylindrical, it is ofcourse to be understood that it may be given any other cross sectional formation, and

-I desire' it to be understood-that while the double heads formed, for instance by the walls 25 and 26, or by t-hewalls 9 and 10,

are highly desirable, owing to the convenience in disassembling the parts of the device and for other apparent reasons, the inner wall of each head, in its, broader sense merely serves as a transverse wall y spaced from the outer w-all to form a valve i the cylindrical 4wall when removing the chamber which, in the embodiments lshown and described, enable the valve chambers and the valves thereof to be iemoved from outer wall of the double headr therefrom. It' is, however, apparent that this may be otherwise arranged without departing from the spirit of my invention, even though less convenient in assembling the parts.

Wherein the claims the term pharmaceutical substance is used, it is intended to mean anysterilizing, disinfectant ordeodo-rizing agentl whether in'liquid, powder, granular or lump form, ork absorbent material saturated with such substance, and where the termA pharmaceutical liquid substance? .is employed, it is intended to mean any liquid having the qualities of disin-A fecting, sterilizing, or vdeodorizing the air or any, objects with which the air passing through .the device is brought in contact with.

1. An air purifier, comprising a casing having a self-closing inlet valve normally thus described my invention,

at one end of said casing, an outwardlyopening self-closing outlet. valveA 'at the other end of 'said casing, a follower within said casing adapted to'pack -af'pharmaceutical substance against the'inlet end of said casing, and a spring between said follower and the outlet end ofsaid casing.

4. An air purifier, comprising a casing having an inlet head at -one end, an outlet vhead at the other end, awall spaced from said inlet head, a self-closing valve between said inlet head and said wall, a wall spaced from said outlet head, a self-closing outlet valve between said outlet head and said last-mentioned wall, a follower between said y walls and between whichv andl vone of said walls a pharmaceutical substance is confined, and a spiral spring between said follower and the other Wall.

5. An air purifier, comprising a casing, an inlet h ead at one end thereof and an outlet head at the other end thereof, said inlet head having aninle-t opening and said outlet head having an outlet opening, a perforated wall spaced from said inlet head, a springpressed valve closing the inlet opening of said inlet head and guided from said per'f'ol rated wall, a wall spaced from said outlet head having an outlet opening, springpressed valveclosing said outlet opening and guided for movement from said outlet. head, a perforated follower within said casing between which and said perforated Wall a pharmaceutical substance is packed, and a spring between said follower and the wall spaced in the outlet opening of said outlet head,

andl a spiral spring within said last inentioned tube and the tube of said valve and adapted to retain said outwardly-closing valve in closed condition.

7. VAn air purifier, comprising a casing having an Outlet head provided with an outlet opening and an inlet head provided with an inlet opening, a transverse wall within the inlet end of said casing spaced from said inlet head and having an axial tube extending outwardly from said transverse wall, a valve closing'the inlet o ening of said inlet head and provided with an axial tube telescoped over lthe tube of v said transverse wall, and a spiral spring within said tubes and bearing with one end against said transverse wall and with its other end against said valve.

8. An air uriiier, comprising a casing having a cy indrical wall, a double inlet head lia-ving a concave-convex inner wall and a. concavo-convex outer' wall in opposed relation to provide a hollow interior for said head, said inner wall having an axial tube extending toward said outerwall and said outer wall having an axial inlet opening, a valve. within the hollow exterior of said head closing said inlet opening and provided with an axial tube telesco ed over the tube of said inner wall, a spira spring'with said tubes and bearing with one end against said inner walliand with its other end against said-valve, an outlet head removabl applied to the outlet end ofsaid cylindricalvwa 1 an -outlet valve for said outlethead, a perforated follower surrounded byv said cyl lindrical wall, absorbent material packed between said perforated follower and the inner wall of said inlet` head, and a spiral spring between said perforated follower and said out-let head. v

9. An air purifier, comprising a casing having a cylindrical wall, a hollow inletl head formed of a perforated concave-convex inner wall provided with a flat i'ini and a concavo-convexv outer Wall reversed from said inner wall and provided with a -flat outer rim and a circumferential flange fitted onto the inlet end of said cylindrical Wall, an vinlet valve within said hollow head, an outlet head removably applied 'to the opposite end of said cylindrical wall, a follower within said casing between which and the perforated inner wall of said inlet head a pharmaceutical substance is packed, and a spiral spring between said follower and said outlet head.-

10. An a'ir purifier, comprising a basing having a cylindrical wall, an inlet read, inlet valve at said inl-feinster@ an outlet head.

having a concavo-convex outer wall and a concavo-convex inner wallopposed to said outer wall and provided with an axial outlet opening, said inner wall having a flat niarginal rim and said outer wall having an outlet opening and an axial tube and having its marginal portion bent around the flat rim of said inner wall, a clamping ring for removably retaining said outlet head on said cylindrical wall, a valve within said outlet head normally closing said outlet opening and having a tube telesco over said firstmentioned tube, and a spiral spring within said tubesexerting force against said valve to maintain the same in closed position.

V11. An air purifier, comprising a casing having an inlet valve at one end, a head at .its other end provided with an axial outlet tube, a second and smaller tube centrally within said outlet tube and spaced from the latter by radical wings providing aplurality of separated outlet passages, a` wall withinthe outletend of said casing spaced fromsaidoutlet head and having an axial opening therein, a valve for closing said outlet opening provided with a -tube telescoped over the inner end of said second or smaller tube, and a spiral` spring axially within saidl tubes exerting force against said valve to maintain the same in closed position.

' 12. An air purifier, comprising a casing having a-cylindrical Wall, an inlet head provided with an inwardly opening valve and secured to the inlet end of said cylindrical wall, an 4outlet head formed of two concavo-convex, members having their concavedsurfaces opposed one tothe other and being marginally connected together, the marginal portion of said head bearing against the outlet end of saidl cylindrical wall, a clamp, ing ring threaded onto the outlet end of saidcylindrical wall and .having an inwardly-directed flange bearing against the -marginal portion 'of' saidoutlet head, the

outer concave-,convex member ofsaid outlet head having an axially disposed outlet tube, asecond or smaller tube positioned Within said outlet tube and having a liquid inlet at its outer end and a valve therein for closing said liquid inlet, the concavo-convex inner menibei' of said outlet head having an axial outlet opening, opening and having an axial openin thereinl and an outwardly extending tu telescopedover the inner eiid of said second orsmaller tube, anda spiral spring between no i iis.

a valve closing said` f izo the valve Within said second or smaller tube and the outlet valve of said inner member and 'adapted to keep 'both valves in closedl position. v

13. An air purifier, comprising a casing having cylindrical wall threaded at one end, an inlet head atthe other end provided with an inlet valve, an outlet head at the threaded end of said transverse wall within the outlet end of said cylindrical wall s aced from said outlet head, a tube carriefby said outlet head and disposed axially thereon, said tube having a liquidinlet at its outer end and a valve therein for closing said liquidinlet, said transverse wall having an axial inlet opening, a clamping ring threadedonto the threaded outlet end of said cylindrical wall and holding said outlet head and the transverse wall spaced therefrom against the outlet end of said cylindrical wall, a'valve closing the outlet opening of said transverse wall and having an opening there-in and a tube extending outwardlyan telescoped over the inner endlof the axiall disposed tube carried by said outlet hea and a spiral spring within said tubes for holding both valves normally closed.

14. An air purifier, comprising acasing having doubleinlet and outlet heads, an

inwardly-o ning valve in said inlet head, an outwardlyopenmgvalve said outlet cylindrical wall, a

head, means permitting-the introduction of a pharmaceutical liquid substance through said outlet head and said outwardly-opening valve, a follower -within said casing, ab-

sorbent material between said follower and said Vinlet head'fadaptedl to be saturated with said liquid substance, and a. spiral lpriig between vsaid follower and said outlet ea i l 15. An air purifier, comprising a cas' having an inlet head at itslower end an an annular trough within said casing at its lower end, ali outlet head at its upper end, a. sprin -pressed follower between its heads, and a rbent material between the follower and the head at the lower end of the casing adapted tobe saturated with a pharmaceutical liquid substance, said annular trough bein adapted to receive any sur lus liquid' su stance not absorbed byy sai 4absorbent material.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

' JOHN DELLLNGER. 

